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2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

W. WHARTON, Ir.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

Patented Jan. 26, 1&86.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. WHARTON, Jr.

RAILWAY SWITCH. No. 334,916. Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

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' WILLIAM VVHARTON, JR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM IVHARTON, JR, & CO., (LIMITED) OF SAME PLACE.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

EiPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,916, dated January 261, 1886.

Application filed October 6, 1885. Serial No.1'79.138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHARTON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of streetrailway switches which are operated by the weight of the draft-animals attached to the cars as they pass over the movable platforms connected with the movable switch-point; and the object of my invention is to construct asimple device of this character, as fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of part of a track, showing my improved switch mechanism with the plates removed. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4, enlarged views of coupling device; Figs. 5 and '6, views of modified form of the coupling device; Figs. 7, 8, and 9, modifications of my switch mechanism.

A A are the switch-castings connecting the main and side tracks, the casting A being provided with the pivoted movable tongue or point a, as shown in Fig. 1.

B is a box, preferably made of cast-iron, to contain the operative parts of the switch. This box is below the level of the road-bed, and is cut out for the reception of the switchcastings. Suspended onsuitable pivot-blocks, b b, formed on the sides of the box, is a rocking frame, D. The ends of the frame are directly under two platforms or plates, E E, which are flush with the road-bed when the rocking frame is in a horizontal position. The frame D is provided with projections d, on which the plates E E rest 5 or the plates may form part of the frame, if desired. A plate, F, is placed over the remaining portion of the box.

Attached to the box B, ate 6, under each end of the frame D, is a band, rope, cord, or chain, 2', preferably a steel band. This band passes over sheaves or pulleys ff in bearings in the frame D, as shown in Fig. 2. The band is intersected by an adjustable screw-coupling, G, formed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which is secured to a pin, projecting downward from the movable tongue a of the switch-through a slot in the switclrcasting A.

On referring to Figs. 3 and 4., it will be seen that the coupling bar h is attached to the turned-up ends of the band i by two right and left hand screws, jj, each of which has a squared portion adapted for the reception of a suitable operating wrench. By adjusting either or both ofthese screwsjj the slack of the band can be easily taken up or the tongue a adjusted. The pin 9 is also threaded, as is the orifice n in the couplingbar h, so as to allow of its adjustment on the pin when deemed necessary.

On the sides of the box B, I form stops at, to limit the downward movement of the plates E E. (See Fig. 1.)

When the plate E is depressed by a draftanimal of an advancing car stepping upon it, under the guidance of the driver, the frame D will be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 2, which will, through the medium ofthe band, move the tongue a to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the car will be directed onto the side track; but if the draft-animal should tread on the plate E the frame D will be rocked in the other direction, and the tongue or moved to the position opposite to that shown, so that it will direct the car onto the main track.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 a wire rope, band, or chain, 2, is attached to the rocking frame D, and passes over pulleys f f, carried by the box B, and thus the vertical vibration of the frame D causes the switch-tongue a to be moved laterally. v

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of the coupling device G. In this construction the coupling-bar h has two threaded arms, j j, adapted to swivel yokes is, said yokes being longitudinally confined to the arms by means of nuts Z, and thus the necessary adjustment is provided for. It should be understood that the flexible chain, band, or rope may be employed without the rocking frame, although I prefer in practiceto use the latter.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the rope i or equivalent, after passing over the pulleys, is attached at opposite ends to legs e on the plates E E, which plates have vertical guides 19 in the box B, to hold them in proper line.

In the modification Fig. 9 the band i or equivalent is adjusted by means of bolts 8 at its ends e, instead of in the middle, the pin 9 passing through the re-enforced portion of the band. 5 I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of'the movable point of a railway-switch with plates E E and a band, chain, or rope, i, connected to said movable point and controlled by said plates, substanro tially as set forth.

'2. The combination of a movable point of a railway-switch with a rocking frame, D, platforms E E, adapted to act on said frame, and a rope, chain, or band, i, connected to said I 5 movable point and acted on by the frame, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the yielding plates E E, the movable switch-point having a pin,

9, and a rope, chain, or band, 2, secured to the pin and capable of adjustment, substantially 20 as described.

4. The combination of the movable switchpoint having a pin, the coupling-bar h, having an opening for the reception of said pin, and the operating rope, chain, or band a, con- 25 nected to said coupling-bar, all substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM VVHARTON, JR.

Witnesses:

HENRY HOWSON, HARRY SMITH. 

